On the wedding day of Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan, the sun shone brilliantly in the sky.
The grand bridal sedan chair departed from the Prime Minister's Mansion, making its way through the bustling streets before arriving at the Zhou Family residence.
With the Prime Minister's daughter getting married, half of the Capital City had come to witness the spectacle.
"My goodness! How magnificent!"
"How could the Prime Minister's daughter's wedding be anything but grand? Especially since this marriage was blessed by His Majesty!"
The common folk couldn't help but marvel at the wedding procession.
According to Great Liang customs, if the bride had brothers, they would escort her to the groom's home. This showed both the natal family's regard for their departing daughter and served as a reminder to the groom that the bride had strong family backing.
If the bride had no brothers, the groom would have to personally come to welcome her.
Without question, Nangong Muyan's case fell into the first category.
Leading the procession was Nangong Chenfeng, mounted on a tall steed.
To make a grand showing for Nangong Muyan, Nangong Chenfeng had specially donned his military uniform and gathered eighteen of his friends in the capital to form a cavalry escort.
The white-robed general led his eighteen stalwart men in an impressive display, followed by the steady crimson sedan chair. Behind it stretched an endless line of dowry bearers, creating a magnificent spectacle that seemed to go on forever!
The onlookers, who hadn't witnessed such grandeur in ages, discussed excitedly with flushed faces as if the joyous occasion was their own.
"Who's the groom anyway?" someone in the crowd asked curiously.
Someone quickly replied: "I heard he's a merchant."
"What? The Prime Minister's daughter is marrying a merchant? You must be joking!"
Those who hadn't known were quite shocked by this news.
"It's true. He's a merchant surnamed Zhou, quite wealthy actually. The Jun Yue Restaurant belongs to his family."
"No matter how rich he is, it's still not a suitable match!" someone shouted. "Miss Nangong is worthy of being an empress, why marry her off to become a merchant's wife? What was Prime Minister Nangong thinking..."
"Who knows? These are matters for the nobility. We commoners should just enjoy the spectacle and not meddle..."
Inside the sedan chair, Nangong Muyan heard these comments and took a large bite of her apple with a "crunch," chewing furiously as if venting her frustration.
These ignorant people had no idea how wonderful Zhou Yi was.
Nangong Muyan thought indignantly while touching the white jade bracelet on her wrist, taking another bite of the apple.
When the bridal sedan stopped at the Zhou Family's main gate and the wedding attendant cheerfully reached into the sedan, Nangong Muyan suddenly remembered that she wasn't supposed to eat the apple - it was meant to be placed on the altar alongside the ruyi scepter prepared by the groom's family, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
Nangong Chenfeng dismounted and took his place beside Nangong Ya and Luo Siyi. After seeing Nangong Muyan off from the Prime Minister's Mansion, the couple had been brought over by the Zhou family's carriage via another route, ready to receive the newlyweds' ceremonial bows at the altar.
Zhou's father and Zhou's Mother stood on the other side of the gate, which was crowded with guests - both Zhou Yi's business associates and Nangong Ya's court colleagues.
The Zhou family's business connections were extensive, and when those shrewd merchants heard that young Zhou Yi was marrying the Prime Minister's daughter, they all flocked to attend, regardless of past rivalries or conflicts. After all, the Zhou family wouldn't turn anyone away on such a joyous occasion.
As for Nangong Ya's side, being the Prime Minister meant he had many who curry favor with him, and naturally, these officials had to attend his daughter's wedding.
Thus, officials and merchants, who rarely mixed, found themselves gathered for this wedding. Though each group looked down on the other - the merchants finding the officials too aloof, and the officials considering the merchants beneath them - they kept to opposite sides, thankfully accommodated by the Zhou residence's spacious grounds.
When the bridal sedan arrived, layers of people surrounded the entrance, with Zhou Yi standing in the center. Countless eyes scrutinized him, some inquiring, some disdainful, and others envious or jealous, but he paid them no mind, focusing solely on the sedan chair.
The sedan chair landed safely, ready for the ceremony.
The ruyi scepter had already been placed on the square red wooden altar, waiting only for the bride's apple.
The wedding attendant reached in for a while, and getting no response, assumed the bride was shy - something she'd seen often. She coaxed gently, "Young bride, please hand me your apple."
Nangong Muyan hadn't expected to cause a mishap at her own wedding, but there was nothing to be done now. Gritting her teeth, she picked up the thoroughly eaten apple core and handed it out.
An apple core... still counted as an apple, right?
Under everyone's watchful eyes, nearly a hundred pairs of eyes watched as the attendant received a tiny apple core. The previously noisy crowd fell momentarily silent.
Zhou Yi immediately understood what had happened and couldn't help laughing, regardless of the occasion.
Fortunately, the wedding attendant was experienced enough to recover quickly from her surprise. With a bright smile, she placed the apple core alongside the fine jade ruyi on the red wooden altar carried by the maid, announcing loudly: "Apple in belly, harmony shall dwell!"
Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan thought simultaneously: This person deserves a bonus!
As the maid carried the "peace and prosperity" symbols inside, Zhou Yi followed instructions to kick the sedan chair's curtain twice, then was handed a red silk ribbon with a large red flower in the middle, the other end held by Nangong Muyan.
The crowd followed the newlyweds to the ceremonial hall, where both sets of parents were already seated at the altar, watching the two red figures approach with smiles. Hong Yuanping and Luo Siyi, in particular, had tears in their eyes.
Just as the couple took their positions and the ceremonial master drew breath to call "First bow to Heaven and Earth," a sharp voice announced: "His Majesty arrives! Princess Hening arrives!"
With the Emperor's arrival, everyone in the courtyard knelt facing the gate.
Several agile armed guards escorted Yuwen Yan, dressed in casual attire, into the courtyard. Jiang Ning followed two steps behind, walking alongside Liu Ming'an.
"Rise, all of you!" Yuwen Yan called out clearly, then laughed heartily after everyone stood up. "I've just come to share in the wedding wine today, please don't stand on ceremony."
Despite his words, with Emperor Yuwen Yan present, everyone except the most seasoned court officials remained tense and nervous.
Under her veil, Nangong Muyan couldn't see clearly but could feel a familiar gaze fixed upon her.
It was Jiang Ning.
Had she come specifically to watch her get married?
Nangong Muyan smiled silently - this person was becoming more and more human.
Bowing to Heaven and Earth, bowing to parents, the couple bowing to each other, entering the bridal chamber...
Nangong Muyan followed each of the ceremonial master's instructions, completing all the wedding rituals, and after all the fuss, finally sat down on the marriage bed.
After Zhou Yi distributed the reward money and dismissed everyone from the room, he turned to find his bride had already lifted her veil and was sitting at the table, peeling longan fruit.
"Are you hungry?"
Zhou Yi sat beside Nangong Muyan, helping her peel the fruit and feeding her the flesh.
"A little, and I'm tired too. We got up early today, and I didn't even get to nap this morning."
Nangong Muyan spoke while chewing, her words slightly muffled, sounding somewhat complainy.
Zhou Yi chuckled softly and stood behind her, helping remove her phoenix crown and then her hairpins and earrings. "I'll have someone bring you some food later, you can sleep after eating."
"Alright," Nangong Muyan agreed, knowing Zhou Yi, as the groom, still needed to go out and attend to the guests until nightfall. She couldn't help but add worriedly, "Don't drink too much."
"Don't worry, I'll pretend to be drunk."
Zhou Yi turned to leave but suddenly felt his clothes being tugged. He looked back at Nangong Muyan questioningly, only to see her licking her lips and smiling brightly at him.
"Zhou Yi, give me a kiss before you go."
Her coquettish tone scratched at Zhou Yi's heart like little claws, and he couldn't possibly say no. Without hesitation, he bent down to kiss her lips.
The subtle sweetness of longan spread between their lips as Zhou Yi kissed her intently and Nangong Muyan responded passionately. Their lips and tongues remained entangled until the wedding attendant called from outside: "Young master, it's time to attend to the guests. There will be plenty of time tonight."
Zhou Yi barely regained his composure and gently bit those persistently approaching lips, softening his voice to soothe: "Tonight, I'll do whatever you wish!"
When the wedding attendant was about to knock, the door opened from inside, and the groom emerged, calling to a maid nearby: "Bring some food for the young mistress."
"Yes," the maid responded promptly, heading toward the kitchen.
Zhou Yi made his way to the front hall, and as soon as he appeared, someone spotted him and shouted cheerfully: "The groom is here!"
Yuwen Yan had already left, but Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an were still present. Seeing the crowd of people approaching Zhou Yi with wine cups, Jiang Ning curved her lips into a smile and stepped forward to shield him: "Come, let this princess drink with you all!"
Zhou Yi could have cried from gratitude - his sister-in-law was truly loyal!
After that day, everyone in the court knew that Princess Hening could drink endlessly without getting drunk. She single-handedly defeated all those who wanted to toast the Prime Minister's son-in-law, yet didn't even show a hint of flush on her face.
The eighteen strong men Nangong Chenfeng had brought were specially selected from the military camps outside the capital, each known for their drinking capacity, intended to help shield his brother-in-law from excessive drinking.
Unexpectedly, his former third sister had stepped forward first, volunteering to take on this task.
Nangong Chenfeng looked at Jiang Ning, then at Nangong Ya, furrowing his brows, feeling there were many things he couldn't understand.
He knew Jiang Ning had killed someone during Yuwen Jin's attempted coup, earning merit and being granted the title of princess, but he couldn't comprehend how his once timid third sister had acquired such capabilities.
Moreover, why was she titled as "commoner Jiang Ning"? Why had she completely severed ties with the Prime Minister's Mansion?
After returning home, Nangong Chenfeng had asked Nangong Ya these questions, but his father had remained silent for a long while, his face showing indescribable sorrow, only telling him that Nangong Ling no longer existed in this world.
Nangong Ya's expression had made Nangong Chenfeng too heartbroken to pursue the matter. He later asked Luo Siyi, but she too was tight-lipped, refusing to reveal anything.
During his three years away from home, his family must have undergone earth-shattering changes.
Nangong Chenfeng couldn't say he liked or disliked Nangong Ling; rather, this third sister had never really existed in his eyes. Since he couldn't get any answers, he decided not to ask anymore. After all, in his heart, he only cared about their family of four; Nangong Ling was merely someone who shared his blood.
Now that this dispensable third sister had become an untouchable princess, Nangong Chenfeng smiled and raised his wine cup to approach her.
For the sake of their sibling relationship, they should share a few drinks.
"Your Highness, this subject toasts to you!" Nangong Chenfeng said coolly, draining his cup in one go.
Jiang Ning looked at Nangong Ya's only child, and though unsure of his intentions, she matched his drink, speaking diplomatic words: "General, your loyalty to the country and protection of Great Liang's stability deserve my toast instead."
The banquet dispersed at dusk. Thanks to Jiang Ning's impressive drinking feat, Zhou Yi, as the groom, hadn't touched a drop of wine throughout.
When he returned to the bridal chamber, Nangong Muyan had already woken from a nap and was playfully spinning the bridal veil on her finger like a performer.
"Zhou Yi!"
As soon as he closed the door, someone pressed against him, followed by warm lips capturing his own, tasting him briefly before quickly pulling away, too fast for him to respond.
"You haven't been drinking?" Nangong Muyan seemed surprised.
So that was why she had kissed him. Zhou Yi suddenly felt peculiar, lifted her up and placed her on the bed, kissing her thoroughly before answering: "Not a drop. Sister-in-law blocked all the drinks for me."
"How thoughtful of her!" Nangong Muyan's eyes curved in satisfaction.
"Yes, sister-in-law is both kind and considerate, so you must never bully her again!"
"Then can I bully you instead?"
"Of course, I love being bullied by you..."
Zhou Yi skillfully undressed her completely, then stripped himself bare, pulling her on top of him. The spring night was long, perfect for lovers' pleasure.
After their passionate encounter, Zhou Yi suddenly remembered something they had forgotten.
"Muyan, we forgot to drink the ceremonial wedding wine."
Zhou Yi held her soft body, looking at the marriage cups on the table with an amused expression.
As soon as he had entered the room and encountered his beauty's embrace, he had been too eagerly drawn to bed to think of anything else.
"Oh, we were supposed to drink that, but I'm pregnant and can't have alcohol. You drink it, then kiss me - that can count as my share."
Her lazy voice resonated against his chest, making Zhou Yi's thoughts wander. He carefully pulled her closer: "I don't think this wine is absolutely necessary."
"Hmm?" Nangong Muyan didn't understand - hadn't he brought it up first?
Zhou Yi tilted her chin up and pressed against her soft lips, whispering: "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces..."
"Yes, come here!"
The dragon and phoenix candles burned brightly in the room, illuminating the fragrant atmosphere.
......
Five months later.
Accompanied by two clear infant cries, Zhou Yi and Nangong Muyan became parents to twin girls.
Though exhausted from childbirth, Nangong Muyan burst into tears at the sight of their children - these little bundles were hers and Zhou Yi's babies!
Zhou Yi crouched beside the bed, holding her hand and gently wiping away her tears: "Muyan, thank you!"
Nangong Muyan looked at Zhou Yi and cried even harder.
In this world, she had love and children - how fortunate she was to have it all.